Rumours around the next PlayStation console have been picking up pace again, but this time the news might not be what you were hoping for. If you are eager to get your hands on the PS6, you might have to wait longer than expected. A new analyst report suggests that the PlayStation 6 could arrive after 2028. This means that we might not get to see the new console launching till 2029. If true, this would make the current generation one of the longest console lifecycles Sony has ever committed to.
According to industry analyst David Gibson, who closely tracks Sony and other major tech and gaming companies, the company appears increasingly comfortable stretching the life of the PlayStation 5 rather than rushing headfirst into next-generation hardware.
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According to Gibson’s report originally published in Japanese language, he says that Sony’s third-quarter earnings (scheduled for February 5) are expected to beat market expectations, driven largely by strong first-party and third-party game sales alongside steady growth in game and network services. Total Q3 sales are projected to touch around 1.8 trillion yen, with operating income estimated at roughly 160 billion yen.
More importantly, Gibson pointed out that Sony expects the PS5 lifecycle to be longer than previous generations. According to him, there is a high likelihood that the PS6 launch will slip beyond earlier predictions, placing it after 2028. If that holds true, 2029 becomes the earliest realistic window for Sony’s next console.
There are already signs that Sony is doubling down on the PS5 rather than preparing consumers for a near-term successor. Over the past few months, the company has introduced region-specific pricing strategies, including a reduced-price PS5 model in Japan and planned discounts during Black Friday in the US and other markets. These moves suggest a renewed push to expand the PS5 user base, even as the console approaches its fifth year on the market.
However, Gibson also believes Sony’s priorities go beyond hardware sales alone. He added that PS5 user activity on PlayStation Network continues to hit record highs, indicating that Sony is increasingly focused on retaining active users and monetising services rather than simply selling more consoles.
Meanwhile, Sony has already hinted that work on the next-generation console is underway. In a video published last year on the official PlayStation YouTube channel, Sony’s lead system architect Mark Cerny discussed future graphics technologies being developed in collaboration with AMD. While most of the conversation focused on near-term advancements, Cerny briefly mentioned a “future console” arriving in a few years’ time, a comment many initially interpreted as a late-2028 PS6 launch.
For now, Sony has not officially confirmed any delay to the PS6, and all timelines remain speculative. Still, if the latest reports are accurate, PlayStation fans may need to settle in for a longer stay with the PS5 generation.
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